The Arabic Dizziness Handicap Inventory and vestibular bedside tests are valuable tools for detecting vestibular impairment in children. Bone-conducted vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials are useful for vestibular system evaluation.

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<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Hearing in noise test (HINT) sentence test is one of adaptive speech in noise tests. It has been used in many clinical applications such as recording of speech perception threshold using sentences material in quiet and in noise and verifying the benefit from hearing-aid amplification and cochlear implants, especially in noise. The aim of the present study was to design and to develop and standardize an Arabic version of HINT sentences lists and also to apply HINT to subjects with SNHL.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Everyday sentences were used in an adaptive procedure to estimate the sentences speech recognition thresholds (sSRT) in quiet and noise; the material consisted of 28 phonemically balanced lists. This study included 150 normal hearing subjects and also 30 subjects with bilateral mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> The mean sSRT threshold in normal hearing subjects in quiet was 19 dB(A)±0.08 dB. The mean of S/N ratio at threshold in the noise 0° condition was -10.36 S/N ratio ± 0.58. The mean S/N ratio at threshold in the noise 90° condition was -10.45 S/N ratio ±0.41. While, the mean S/N ratio at threshold in the noise 270° condition was -11.69 S/N ratio ±1.70. As regards SNHL group, the mean of sSRT in quiet was 49.46 dB(A)±0.68 dB. The mean of S/N ratio at threshold was -7.69 S/N ratio ±0.68, -8.18±0.33 and -8.18±0.35 in the noise conditions 0°, 90° and 270° respectively.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The statistical reliability and efficiency of the test suit it to practical applications.</p>

Cochlear implants are considered the gold standard therapy for subjects with severe hearing loss and deafness. Cochlear implants bypass the damaged hair cells and directly stimulate spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) of the auditory nerve. Hence, the presence of functional SGNs is crucial for speech perception in electric hearing with a cochlear implant. In deaf individuals, SGNs progressively degenerate due to the lack of neurotrophic support, normally provided by sensory cells of the inner ear. Adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) are known to produce neurotrophic factors. In a guinea pig model of sensory hearing loss and cochlear implantation, ASCs were autologously transplanted into the scala tympani prior to insertion of a cochlear implant on one side. Electrically evoked auditory brain stem responses (eABR) were recorded 8 weeks after cochlear implantation. At conclusion of the experiment, the cochleae were histologically evaluated. Compared to untreated control animals, transplantation of ASCs resulted in an increased number of SGNs and their peripheral neurites. In ASCtransplanted animals, mean eABR thresholds were lower and suprathreshold amplitudes larger, suggesting a larger population of intact auditory nerve fibers. Moreover, when compared to controls, amplitude-level functions of eABRs in ASC transplanted animals demonstrated steeper slopes in response to increasing interphase gaps (IPGs), indicative of better functionality of the auditory nerve. In summary, results suggest that transplantation of autologous ASCs into the deaf inner ear may have protective effects on the survival of SGNs and their peripheral processes and may thus contribute to longterm benefits in speech discrimination performance in cochlear implant subjects. NeuroReport 32: 776-782

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Background Electrically evoked auditory brainstem response (E-ABR) is an evoked potential recorded from the auditory nerve in response to electric stimulation. It is considered a short latency evoked potential. It plays a vital role, especially after the increased number of cochlear implant receivers. Body of abstract E-ABR is characterized by three positive peaks (eII, eIII, and eV) generated from the auditory nerve, cochlear nucleus, and perhaps from neurons in the lateral lemniscus or inferior colliculus. The largest is corresponding to wave V of the acoustic one. There are differences between both acoustic auditory brainstem response (A-ABR) and E-ABR. E-ABR is characterized by larger amplitudes and shorter latencies than the acoustic, and it has a steeper latency-intensity function. There are many variables affecting the E-ABR waveform, including recording-related variables, stimulus-related variables, and subject-related variables. E-ABR has potential clinical applications in cochlear implants (pre, inter, and postoperative). Conclusion After the increase in the number of cochlear implant receivers, E-ABR provides a promising new tool that can be used to evaluate auditory nerve functions. A lot of factors affect its waveform, including recording-related factors and stimulus-related and subject-related variables. E-ABR has many clinical applications, not only in post-implantation situations but also in preimplantation.

Background: BKB SIN test is one of adaptive speech in noise tests. Its goal is to provide a mean of quantifying the realword signal to noise ratio (SNR) loss that is not well inferred from the audiogram. Aim: Develop and standardize the Arabic version of BKB SIN test sentences lists that measures the signal-to-noise ratio.Patients and Methods: This study included 54 normal hearing children. Their age ranged from 5-18 years. Material: Sentences have words that are at first grade reading level and familiar to children. These sentences were recorded by male talker and were presented in four-talker babble in four phases. Results: Phase I assess the equivalence of sentences and normalize signal to noise ratio 50%. In Phase II selection of sentences then construction of equivalent lists producing 18 equivalent lists, each list consists of eight sentences. The first sentence has four keywords, while the remaining sentences have three. Phase III determines the SNR starting level of lists. Phase IV provides age related norms. The final lists comprise the Arabic-BKB SIN test that measures the SNR a listener requires to understand 50% of keywords in sentences in a background of babble. Conclusion:The Arabic-BKB test is developed and standardized. The statistical reliability and efficiency of the test suit it to practical applications.

In monaural processing, pitch representation (F0 amplitude) and cross-phaseogram were the main affected domains. Speech phonemes of transient origin can be confused in subjects with UHL.